Barbara A. Damon-Day, 72, of Damariscotta, passed away at Chase Point Assisted Living on the afternoon of April 28. Born on Feb. 5, 1943 at the Osteopathic Hospital in Portland, on one of the coldest days in Maine’s history, she was the daughter of Samuel Clinton Hinds and Mildred Maloy Hinds of South Portland. Her brother, Samuel A. Hinds lives in the Palm Springs area of California.
Barbara was a graduate of South Portland High School and was the first person in her family to graduate from a four-year college. She received her bachelor and masters degrees from the University of Southern Maine, and worked in many aspects of education, both public and private, in Maine and New Hampshire, retiring from the Maine Department of Education.
She was the mother of twins, Patrick D. Damon and Alecia M. Damon, and grandmother of Mikayla Damon of Arizona, and Jan-Christian Damon of Massachusetts. She was predeceased by her loving husband Richard Beston Day of Damariscotta.
Throughout her life, Barbara was an advocate for the truth, no matter what the circumstances or the consequences. Following her son’s unexplained, non-combat death, she was able to draft legislation which was passed unanimously by the Maine State Legislature, creating a commission. While chairing the commission, a number of positive changes to prevent non-combat deaths in the Maine Army National Guard were made, as well creating legislation that was passed unanimously in Maine and sent to the Congress and the President of the United States making recommendations for changes needed at the federal level. She was inspired by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and did not take “no” as an answer.
All her life, she loved being outdoors, surrounded by nature and all its creatures. She was often accompanied by her husband until his death, and spent many happy hours gardening, camping and hiking in her favorite wilderness area, Baxter State Park. The perennials they grew gave them great joy. The medicinal herbs they also grew in their gardens actually contributed to their good health, as well as that of friends and family.
As an elder, Barbara learned to play tennis, pickleball, and the piano, all of which she thoroughly enjoyed. Both she and her husband were in the early local performances of Young at Heart, which is now Hearts Ever Young.
In 2013, she took the Master Gardener Volunteer Training and held a vision for creating a community garden in Damariscotta. She was a member of the Rising Tide Community Market before there was even a storefront.
She took the Shelter Institute course and designed and built her first small (under 1000 square feet) simple, but well insulated, passive solar home in the woods for her family in 1978. Her longtime dream was to design and build a very small (under 500 square feet) energy efficient, yet aesthetically pleasing home within walking distance to all shops, library, and restaurants in Damariscotta. This dream became a reality in 2013 when she moved into her new home in Damariscotta.
In February of 2014, she received the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Barbara committed to “being here now” and living her remaining life to the fullest. This included things like excavating and landscaping around her new, small house; tent camping, hiking, renting cabins overlooking fresh and saltwater; attending a retreat at Camp Kieve for ovarian cancer survivors, where she zip-lined despite her fear of heights; traveling to California with her daughter to visit her brother, and to Arizona to visit her granddaughter; and a five-week long stay with her daughter-in-law Hildi Halley in Puerto Rico last December and January. Her Christmas gift was being with her grandchildren and daughter-in-law, where she rode Paso Fino horses along Puerto Rican beaches.
She chose to take control of the last days of her life. After being cared for by the generosity and kindness of her friends at home, she moved to Chase Point, where she also received excellent care. The staff gifted her with the opportunity of having choices in her quality of life until the day she died.
Barbara will also be remembered by her ex-husband Ellsworth Damon of Maine. She was deeply loved by many family and friends.
Barbara will be laid to rest privately at the Evergreen Cemetery in Portland, near her son Patrick who passed away in Afghanistan in 2006.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to FARMS (Focus on Agriculture in Rural Maine Schools), PO Box 421, Damariscotta, ME 04543; or the CLC YMCA Pool Fund, PO Box 787, Damariscotta, ME 04543.
Condolences, and messages for the family, may be expressed by www.StrongHancock.com.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.